STEM education improvement community to talk strategies Nov. 16–17

University of Maine faculty, staff and graduate students will discuss evidence-guided teaching and learning strategies with preK–12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) teachers Nov. 16–17 at Point Lookout in Northport.

About 125 attendees are expected at the eighth annual fall summit of the Maine STEM Partnership, a statewide education improvement community.

“The summit is a fantastic opportunity for the researchers and educators of the Maine STEM Partnership to come together to celebrate successes and share strategies for engaging students in STEM learning,” says Marina Van der Eb, Maine STEM Partnership coordinator.

The summit is titled, “Strengthening Research-Guided STEM Teaching & Learning for Maine Students: Community-based strategies to support educators.” The themes are fostering achievement for all Maine students; noticing, exploring and deepening student thinking; and leveraging teacher leadership in STEM.

The event begins with a Friday night dinner and keynote by Anne Leak, assistant professor of elementary and middle grades at High Point University in North Carolina. Her talk is titled, “Connections and Context: Refocusing NGSS to Create Meaningful Learning Opportunities.”

Talks and workshops continue Saturday. Presenters will include UMaine faculty members from the physics, chemistry and mathematics departments, as well as representatives from the Department of Education, and teachers from around the state.